Smarter Writer

Melbourne-based Michelle Gallaher from The Social Science has been named the 2017 Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year, after also receiving the Entrepreneur Award.

Having spent 25 years in biopharmaceutical and medical research, Ms Gallaher founded The Social Science, a marketing and communications consultancy specialising in digital content creation for clients within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) innovation industries.

Michelle Gallaher is the 2017 Telstra Victorian Business Woman of the Year.

Her second start-up, Women in STEMM Australia, looks to reduce barriers to entry for women looking to enter the industries and, ultimately, close the gender pay gap.
The two businesses are powered by Ms Gallaher’s belief that Australia cannot reach its full ‘innovation potential’ if a significant proportion of STEMM-qualified females opt out mid-career or fail to enter the workforce at all.

“Social and professional networks are enormously powerful in accelerating careers and building innovation ecosystems,” she said. “Women know this, yet many of us hold back from investing and leveraging networks in the same way that men do.”

Also recognised at the 2017 Telstra Victorian Business Women’s Award were:

Joe Pollard, Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador, Group Executive Media and Chief Marketing Officer, said that all of the Victorian winners are extraordinary business women whose achievements deserve to be recognised.

“Michelle’s deep passion to encourage more women and girls in STEMM is helping to transform the industries and create opportunities for other women. Her disruptive thinking, as a serial entrepreneur, is highly commendable.”

The Telstra Business Women’s Awards shine a light on women’s achievements as business leaders. They celebrate the positive results of inclusive leadership, such as better organisational performance, increased competitive advantage and, at a macro level, a thriving economy.

State and Territory winners will attend the National Awards judging, in Melbourne, culminating in a Gala Dinner on the night of Tuesday 21 November 2017.

Nominations for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards are open year-round.